Electric alarm.



T. NORPOTH.

ELECTRIC ALARM APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1908. 914,172. Patented Mar.2, 1909.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

INVENTOR.

W1C fig ATTORNEY.

' T. NORPOTH.

ELEGTRIG ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12,1908.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR. v 77710:! Norjralfi BY ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES TH'E mmms PETERS cu wnsummcu. a. c.

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THEODOR NORPOTI-I, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC .ALARIVI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented March 2, 1909.

Application filed June 12, 1908. Serial No. 438,186.

[0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnnonon Nonrorn, citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented. certain new anduseful Improvements in Electric Alarms, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being rad to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in electric alarms; and itconsists in the novel details of construction more fully set forth inthe specification and pointed out in the claims.

in the drawings, Figure 1 is a general plan of my invention, theoperating cords therefrom leading to two independent Window screens;Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in plan of the supplemental energizing coiland its armature serving to close the circuit of a sec ondaryannunciator located in a part of the house removed some distance fromthe primary annuneiator; 3 is an end elevation of Fig. Fig. l is avertical section on line ll of Fig. 2 Fig. 5 is a top plan of theprimary annunciator casing with lid swung open showing the primaryannunciator, its battery and energizing coil, and setting mechanism;Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 isa side elevation thereof with. parts broken away and with lid. closed; 8is an enlarged plan of the p arts of the setting mechanism, shown incentral position; Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section on the line 99of Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 is a sectional detail on the line 101O of Fig. 8.

The present invention is an improvement on the electric alarm covered bymy U. S. Patent 880,691, dated March 3, 1908, and while contemplatingthe several advantages and objects therein set forth it possesses features of construction which make it possible not only to detect theintrusion of a burglar at different points or places on the premises,but which permit the sounding of an alarm in apartments removed from theroom in which the casing or box containing the operating even should thecasing be removed by the lnn'glar from the room.

The advantages of the present improvement will be better apparent from adetailed description of the invention which is as follows Referring tothe drawings, 0, represents a box or vasing having a top lid L hingedparts is set, and to continue such sounding thereto as shown, the casingserving to house the operating parts of the primary annunciator as shown(Fig. 5). Located in the casing is a frame F at one end of which aremounted a series (two in the present case) of rotatable disks or members1, 1, having each a peripheral groove 2, for the winding of a cord orwire a, the cords passing freely in opposite directions through holes inthe side walls of the casing, the projecting portions of the cords beingprovided with limiting rings 1) to prevent the same from beingaccidentally retracted fully into the casing under the action of thewinding s rings 3, 3 by which the disks are contro led. The cordextensions beyond the rings 1) are provided with terminal hooks in bywhich they may be secured to the wire screens S of a screen door orwindow, through which the burglar must pass to gain access to theapartment or room.

In the particulars thus far described the present invention does notmaterially differ from my patent, except in the provision of themultiplicity of winding disks 1, 1. in the present instance I haveillustrated the driving spring 3 for the disk as having one end coupledto the disk-shaft, and the opposite end to the disk (Fig. 6) althoughany other arrangement will serve the purpose, so long as the disk willautomatically wind the cord when the projecting end is released orsevered.

Located within the casing O is a drybattery B (or preferably two withopposite poles connected by wire r) and anelectric well or primaryannunciator A, the bell portion being on the outside of the lid, thehammer d leading from the energizing coil E mounted 011 the inside ofthe lid, through an opening 0 of the lid as shown (Fig. 5). One wire wleads from the battery to the energizing coil E, another wire w leadingfrom the battery to one of the terminals or poles e of the circuit, thesecond ole or terminal 6 having a return wire w leading back to the coilE, the same as in my patent above referred to. In the event theterminals or poles e, e (no mally separated to keep the circuit broken)are brought together, the circuit will be closed and the bell will ring.

The mechanism for closing the circuit referred to may be described asfollows Mounted pivotally on top of the frame and oscillating about acommon pivot 'p are a series of superposed (two in the present case)resilient members 4, 4 respectively, the top member 4 overlapping asuitable distance the bottom member 4, so that the outer ends of therespective members come directly opposite the serrated peripheries ofthe disks 1, 1. As shown (Fig. 7) the members 4, 4 have their outer endsbent up wardly, the same terminating in projections or fingers 5, 5,which are adapted to engage the serrated peripheries of the disks 1,' 1,

when said resilient bent ends of the members 4, 4 are set for operation.The rear rounded ends of the members 4, 4 terminate between and engagethe inner edge of the adjacent arms of the circuit-closing levers 6, 6,pivoted in parallelism on top of the frame F, the rear ends of thelevers terminating in wedge-shaped heads 7, 7, these heads serving toforce the pole e into con tact with pole c with a given oscillation ofeither lever 6, and thus close the circuit and sound an alarm. When themembers 4, 4 are set for operation, they occupy a central position, thelevers 6, 6 being at the same time forced into parallelism, the wedges 7just clearing their respective electrodes 6, e.

The setting of the members 4, 4 is accomplished by the followingmechanism Mounted forward of the axis of oscillation of the members 4,4, in lugs or bearings 8, 8, is a rock-frame or yoke 9 in the shape of ashallow U, one of the terminals of'which terminates in a right-angularlydeflected arm 10 by means of which the yoke may be rocked about its axisin such manner that the yoke may be oscillated to the vertical positionshown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, or may be lowered or folded rearwardly againstthe frame F as shown by dotted position in Fig. 8. Reciprocating ineyelets 11, on top of the frame F is a U-shapedlocking or setting frame12 the terminals of the arms of which are loosely looped over therock-frame 9, the base of the frame 12 passing behind the front upwardlydeflected terminals 6 of the circuit-closing levers 6. When the yoke 9is rocked down against the frame F, the locking frame 12 is pushedrearwardly (dotted position Fig. 8) so as to clear the up-turned ends 6of the levers 6, thus leaving the latter to oscillate with anydeflection on the part of the members 4, 4 resulting from any rotationof the disks 1 to which the cords a are attached. This freedom isaccorded the levers 6 when the yoke 9 has been swung down so as topermit the resilient ends of the members 4, 4 to engage with theserrated peripheries of the disks 1. When the yoke is rocked upwardly,it forces the spring ends of the members 4, 4 out of engagement with thedisks 1, at the same time drawing the frame 12 forward which forwardmovement permits reengagement of the base of the frame (12) with theterminals 6, thus resetting them into parallelism and at the same timecausing the members 4, 4 to resume a position arallel to the axis of theframe F and to tie levers 6, 6. The parts being thus reset, the frame 12may then be shoved rearward to releasing position, the fingers 5 againallowed to rengage with the disks 1, when upon the slightest rotation ofthe disks owing to a disturbance of either cord (1, the members 4, 4 aredeflected sufficiently to oscillate one or the other of the levers 6 tocause its wedge end 7 to force the poles e, 6 into contact, when analarm will be immediately sounded by the bell A.

In practice it becomes desirable to control the yoke 9 from the outsideof the casing O, and to accomplish this I make the following provision:Mounted in the lid L is a spindle 13 the outer end of which isprovidedwith an operating handleor crank-arm 14, limited by a pin 15 in onedirection, and by a in 16 in the opposite direction, the words n and Offbeing marked opposite the respective pins (Fig. 1). To the inner end ofthe spindle is secured a curved slotted arm 18. of a shape on the orderof a presser-foot on a sewing machine, and through the slot 8 of thisarm the arm 10 of the yoke 9 is free to pass. When the crank 14 isturned to on position, it means that the foot 18 has been swung to sucha position as to have rocked the arm 10 in proper direction to releasethe frame 12 from the contact levers 6 soar, to allow the latter toclose the circuit with any disturbance of the tension cords a; whenswung to off position it means that the frame 12 has been shoved forwardto lock the parts against disturbance, this corresponding to settingposition in which the parts are allowed to remain when the device is notin use during the day. Of course when at night the parts are againturned on the slightest disturbance of any cord a will set off thealarm.

The foregoin description is directed to those features 0 the presentinvention which are instrumental in setting off the primary annunciatoror alarm A which is carried by the casing or box C in the room in whichthe box hasbeen placed; but in some cases it becomes desirable to soundan alarm in a distant room or apartment, and this I accomplish by thefollowing mechanism, special reference being had to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,and 10. Leading out of the rear of the casing C from one pole of thebattery B is a wire m, another wire m leading from pole c, thewiresbeing led through the house or apartment to the energizing coil Eof a secondary annunciator A placed in a sleeping room or other remotepart of the house, saidannunciator being operated from a local batteryB. Under ordinary circumstances the circuit of the local battery B isopen, and is only closed when the gap between the contact posts 19, 19,in the circuit of the battery B is closed. The closing of this gap isaccomplished by the bevel end of the oscillating armature 2O hinged infront of the energizing coil E. This gap when closed completes thecircuit, thus ener izing the tertiary coil E of the annunciator A andsounding an alarm. The energizing of the coil E is accomplished underthe following circumstances. Leading from the pole c to which the wire wis connected is wire it which leads to a contact arm 21 overhanging theframe F, and occupying a position directly beneath a contactangle-bracket 22 serving as a binding post for the wire a which runsback and connects to pole e from which leads the wire m out of thecasing C. Now, the sliding frame 12 is provided with a finger 23 (Fig.10) which for the extreme positions of the frame (the on or offposition) oc cupies a position on one side the other of the contactlinger 21 (Fig. 8). if we assume that the alarm is set for the night tothe on position, and a burglar sets oil the alarm A, his first impulsewill be to'shift the frame 12 to off position (in wh'ch shifting themembers 6 are brought :into position of parallelism with the axis of theframe F and the contact between the poles e, c is broken), but in thismovement of the frame 12 to off position, during which the circuitoperating the annunciator A is broken, the finger 23 will force thecontact arm 21 into contact with the contact-bracket 22, closing thecircuit leading to the coil Fl, energizing the latter, which thus drawsthe armature 20 into position to cause the free bevel end thereof to bewedged between the contact posts 19, 19, whereupon the circuit of thesecondary battery 13 will close and energize the tertiary coil E andsound the secondary annunciator A identified with it. Gnce the armature20 is wedged in between the posts 19, 19 it will remain there, andnothing the burglar can do downstairs will avail him in stopping theringing of the bell A, because the latter is operated from the localbattery B to which the burglar has not access. The occupant of the roomin which is located the bell A can of course break the local circuit byswinging the pivoted armature 20 out of its position between the posts19, 19. This he may accomplish by a specially contrived locking latch 21 made of wire, and mounted in bearings formed in the bracket 25 and thebase 26 of the coil E, the latch having an operating handle or crank 27as shown. By turning the latch in proper direction, the armature 20 maybe disengaged from be tween the binding posts, and locked in suchdisengaged position until such time as occasion may arise to release thesame for a subsequent setting of the alarm. lf the occupant is not usingthe up-stairs room, and no occasion arises to have the alarm soundthere, he simply locks the armature 20 against the energizing action ofthe coil E. Of course as the frame 12 is being set for the night, thefinger 23 as it sweeps under the arm 21 will force the parts 21, 22 intocontact, but during the setting movement of the parts the armature 20 isheld locked, and is only released when the occupant of the up-stairsroom is ready to retire. Once released, the armature will respond to anyshifting of the frame 12 by the bur lar downstairs, as in such shiftingthe coil l? at once becomes energized and the alarm A is sounded. Theletters u, to represent the wires of the local battery 3'.

Such features as are illustrated but not referred to, are well known andcovered by my previous patent.

The operation being already covered by the description, and beingsubstantially the same as in my previous patent, no occasion arises toreview it here.

6f course while in the patented device there was present but a singledisk wherewith to disturb the member 4, the present machine has twodisks, thus multiplying the chances of detecting the intruder.

The members or bars 4, 4 are in effect the same as a single bar having aseries of'fingers 5, 5, of the proper length to effect engagement withthe disks 1. Of course by making two bars they can be made moreresilient or springy than could a single or composite bar.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an electric alarm,a casing, an electric circuit having normally separated electrodes, anannunciator in the path of the circuit, a rotatable member, anoscillating bar pivoted between its ends, one arm of said bar beingresilient and adapted to normally bear against the rotatable member, arocking yoke disposed transversely to the axis of rotation of therotatable member, and adapted to disengage the bar from the rotatablemember upon the rocking of the yoke in one direction, a reciprocatingframe coupled loosely to the yoke, a pair of independently pivotedcircuit-closing levers engaging the adjacent end of the oscillating barand adapted to be independently actuated thereby upon deflection thereofwith any rotation of the rotatable member, the circuit-closing levershaving formations adapted upon deflection of the oscillating bar to beforced against one of the electrodes and force the latter into contactwith its opposite electrode, and means independent of the yoke for rocking the latter from a point outside of the casing, substantially as setforth.

2. In an electric alarm, a normally open electric circuit, a primaryannunciator in the path thereof, a rotatable member, an oscillating barpivoted intermediate its ends and having one arm engaging said memberand adapted to be deflected by the latter upon rotation of the member ineither direction, circuit-closing devices actuated by the deilection ofthe bar, a second normally open electric circuit, a secondaryannunciator in the path thereof, and means in movable vrelation to thepivot bar for effecting a closing of the second circuit in the act ofopening the first circuit whereby the second annunciator may respond,substantially as set forth.

' 3. In an electric alarm, a normally open electric circuit, a primaryannunciator in the path thereof, a rotatable member, an oscillating barpivoted intermediate its ends and having one arm engaging said memberand adapted to be deflected thereby upon rotation of the member,circuit-closing devices actuated by the deflection of the bar, a sec ondnormally open electric circuit, a secondary annunciator in the paththereof, a reciprocating setting frame, a rock-yoke for disengaging thepivotedvbar from the rotatable member and simultaneously advancing thesetting frame, and means on the frame for effecting the closing of thesecond circuit during the reciprocations of the setting frame andthereby sounding the annunciator identified with said second circuit,substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric alarm, a normally open circuit, a primary annunciatortherefor, a movable framefor effecting the opening of said circuit, asupplementalelectric circuit having an energizing coil in the paththereof, a movable armature in conjunction with said coil, a normallyopen electric circuit, a second annunciator in the path thereof, meansoperating in conjunction with the movable frame for closing thesupplemental circuit upon a movement of the frame in proper directionand thereby energizing the armature coil, and means on the armature forclosing the gap in the last circuit and sounding the annunciatoridentified therewith, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.V

THEODOR NORPOTH. Witnesses EMIL STAREK, FANNIE E. WEBER.

